S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9068--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
September 5, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RAGA, KASSAY, STECK, REYES, TORRES -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations -- recommit-
ted to the Committee on Governmental Operations in accordance with
Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the division
of human rights to participate in the United Nations for certain
purposes
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 294-b
to read as follows:
§ 294-B. PARTICIPATION IN THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSAL PERIODIC
REVIEW. 1. THE STATE, THROUGH THE DIVISION, SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THE
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL'S UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW BY
ESTABLISHING AN INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE PURPOSES OF DRAFTING AND
PUBLISHING A REPORT. THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE LED BY THE DIVISION, AND
SHALL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES DESIGNATED BY THE HEADS OF ANY STATE AGEN-
CY OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE THE DIVISION DEEMS NECES-
SARY FOR COMPLETION OF THE REVIEW. THE DIVISION SHALL ALSO INVITE
PARTICIPATION, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, ACADEMIC
INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
DEEMED RELEVANT.
2. THE REVIEW SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
A. A DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODOLOGY USED AND THE CONSULTATION PROCESS
UNDERTAKEN IN PREPARATION OF THE REPORT.
B. A SUMMARY OF THE STATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTORY, AND INSTITU-
TIONAL FRAMEWORK RELEVANT TO HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING APPLICABLE NATIONAL
AND STATE JURISPRUDENCE AND EXISTING HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS.
C. AN EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HUMAN-RIGHTS-RELATED LAWS
AND POLICIES, AS WELL AS LEGISLATIVE OR VOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS AND ACTIV-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13663-06-6
A. 9068--A 2
ITIES BY STATE AND LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES OF
WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS RATIFIED, AND ANY COMMITMENTS WHICH THE
UNITED STATES HAS MADE TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
REGARDING THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW.
D. IDENTIFICATION OF ACHIEVEMENTS, BEST PRACTICES, CHALLENGES, AND
CONSTRAINTS.
E. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR KEY PRIORITIES THE STATE SHOULD IMPLEMENT TO
OVERCOME CONSTRAINTS AND IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND.
F. IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS WHERE AGENCIES MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES, MONETARY OR OTHERWISE.
3. THE REPORT SHALL BE DRAFTED AND COMPLETED BY NOVEMBER THIRTIETH,
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION GIVEN
TO THE UNITED STATES TO CONDUCT ITS SCHEDULED UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW.
4. UPON COMPLETION, THE DIVISION SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE
REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND
TO PUBLISH THE REPORT ON THE DIVISION'S WEBSITE SO THAT IT IS PUBLICLY
ACCESSIBLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DIVISION MAY SUBMIT THE REPORT TO THE
UNITED NATIONS' HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM STRICTLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF RECEIV-
ING TECHNICAL FEEDBACK AND IMPROVING STATE HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES. ANY
SUBMISSION SHOULD CLEARLY STATE THAT IT IS SUBMITTED SOLELY IN THE
CAPACITY OF A SUBNATIONAL STAKEHOLDER, DOES NOT PURPORT TO REPRESENT OR
BIND THE UNITED STATES AND IS INTENDED EXCLUSIVELY TO INFORM AND IMPROVE
STATE-LEVEL HUMAN RIGHTS GOVERNANCE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.